Optical system



Feb. 23, 1943. I J. A. MAURER, JR

OPTICAL SYSTEM Filed July 2, 1940 s Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR JOHN A. MHUPEP, ME. BY mmmmek AGENT Feb. 25, 1943.

J. A. MAURER, JR 2,312,259

OPTICAL'SYSTEM Filed' July 2, 1940 s Sheefs-Sheet 2 F! 4 FIG. 5

JOHN A. MHUREIP, JR.

4 AGENT Feb. 23, 1943. MAURER, JR I 2,312,259

OPTICAL SYSTEM Filed July 2, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVDENTOR JOHN A. MAI/FEE, we BY @125 AGENT Patented Feb. 23, 1943 UNITED STATESGPATENT OFFICE 7 with the electrical impulses to be recorded, and

This invention relates to optical systems for the photographic recording of electrical impulses onamovingfilm suchasareusedinsound recording, picture transmission, and the like. More particularly. it relates to optical. systems of this class which produce impulse records of constant width but varying intensity. Such records are known as variable density records.

The optical systems forvariable density recording used in present-day practice commonly employ either a glow lamp, or a string oscillo-' graph or light valve. These devices for translating electrical impulses into vibrations of a finally means imaging said line of light and acting only in a plane which is at right angles thereto and extends through the recording point. By the cooperation of these three means.

- there is produced at the recording point a final beam of light have certain inherent drawbacks which are generally known and hence need not be stated here in detail. It has therefore been proposed to employ, for variable density recordring, optical systems having a mirror oscillograph or similar translating device, and it is an object of the invention to provide an improved optical system of this type.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an optical system of this type which is particularly satisfactory as regards emciency of illumination, convenience of adjustment," and ease of manuiacture.

Another object of the invention is theprovision of an optical system of this type by means of which a linear relation between the electrical impulses to be recorded and the transparency of the record used for their reproduction may easily be efiected.

Another object of the invention is the provision oi an optical system of this type which may be built with small physical size and at comparatively little cost.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an optical system 0! this type which permits its visible adjustment and also visible monitoring of the recording of the electrical impulses in' a particularly convenient and accurate manner.

Still other objects and advantages of the invention include those which are hereinafter,

stated or apparent orwhich are incidental to the invention. e

The objects of the invention are substantially achieved by providing an optical system having means for producing a line of light extending in a direction at right angles to .the direction in which the film moves at the recording P nt. that is, the point at which the optical axis of the system strikes the film. The optical system furthermore has'means for varying the length oi the aforementioned line of light in accordance line image the intensity of which varies in accordance with the electrical impulses to be recorded.

Throughout the present specification, tho direction in which the iilm moves at the recording point, and the directions parallelto it, will be called vertical, and the direction in which the line of light of varying length extends, and the directions parallel to it, will be called horizontal,

the horizontal directions being at right angles to the vertical directions. Moreover, the plane in which the means imaging the line of light not will be called the vertical plane, and the plane which contains the line of light, and which is at right angles to the vertical direction, will be called the horizontal plane, the horizontal plane being at right angles to the vertical plane.

It will thus be seen that in the present specification the terms vertical" and horizontal will not be used in any absolute sense but merely as indicating relative position or direction, and that choice between these terms has been determined merely by convenience in description and illustration.

The invention will be better understood when the following description is considered with the accompanying drawings of certain presently preferred embodiments thereof, and its scope will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a diagrammatic perspective view of one embodiment oi the. invention,

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic longitudinal section in the vertical plane of the optical system shown in Fig. 1, the optical axis being represented as a straight line and an oscillograph mirror bein represented as an aperture,

Fig. 8 is a corresponding section in the horizontal plane. 4

Figs. 4 to 7 show in elevation modifications of an element employed with the optical system shownin Figs. l'tos,

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic perspective view of another embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic longitudinal section in the vertical plane of the optical system shown in Fig. 8, the optical axis being represented as a straight line and an oscillograph mirror being represented as an aperture.

Fig. is a corresponding section in the hoi'izontal plane,

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a modification lamp in. The filament Ii of lamp III is focused by a suitable condenser lens l2, preferably oi wide aperture, on the mirror l2 of an oscillograph. galvanometer .(not shown) or similar device translating electrical impulses lnto mechanical vibrations. The axis i4--i4 about which mirror I2 is mounted to vibrate extends horizontally.

A screen i6 is placed adjacent to lens l2.-

Screen I! has an opening ll which is an isosceles triangle with its base extending horizontally. Opening i1 is uniformly illuminated by lamp filament I l and. imaged by means of a spherical lens i8, placed in front of mirror l2, on a screen ii in which a slit 2!! extends horizontally. As lens I8 is spherical and hence acts in both the vertical and horizontal planes (see Figs. 2 and 3). a uniformly illuminated image 2| of opening I! is formed in the plane of slit 20, which plane is at right angles to both the vertical and horizontal planes and contains slit 20. Ima e 2 illum na es. in its turn, a portion of silt 20.

When the electrical impulses to be recorded are applied in known manner to the oscillograph galvanometer on which mirror i2 is mounted, mirror l3, being deflected in accordance therewith, moves image 2| vertically, that is, across slit 20. Thi vibration of image 2| across slit 20 results in variations oi the length of that portion of slit 20 which is illuminated by image 2|. In otherwords, there appears at slit 20 a line of light the length of which varies at both its ends in accordance with the electrical impulses to be recorded.

A spherical lens '22, preferably of wide aperture, is placed adjacent to screen it. Lens 22 produces on. or in the neighborhood of, film 22, that is, approximately at the recording point 24, an image of mirror l2, light from lamp filament ll being directed upon mirror l2 by condenser lens l2. To throw the image of mirror i2 slightly out of focus with respect to film 22 has the advantage that the ordinarily coiled structure of lamp filament i i, which is reproduced on mirror i2, is not re-imaged on film 22 where it would cause striations of a generally undesirable chat i r.

' v In the vertical plane, the actionof spherical lens 22'is barred by screen I! (see F18. 2). But

by its action in the horizontal plane lens 22 produces, at the recording point 24, an even distribution of whate er part of the light flux inimage 2i is permitted to pass slit.2li.- 'Ihis even distribution takes place within approximately the horizontal extension, or length, of the image of mirror l2 produced by lens 22 (see Fig. 3), which image length should therefore be at least equal to the horizontal extension, or with, of the impulse record desired. Thus, by its action in the cording point a the light flux passing through slit in As focal length of spherical lens 22. in order to form an image of mirror i2 approximately at the recording point 24, must be large compared to its distance from screen I 2, lens 22 does not interfere with the imagery. by spherical lens l2.

of opening II in the plane of slit 22.

Between screen I! and film 22 there is placed a cylindrical lens 22, which has its cylinder axis horizontal and therefore does not act in the horizontal plane. In the vertical plane, however. cylindrical lens "forms on film 22 at the recording point 24 an image of the illuminated portion of, that is, of the line of light appearing at, slit 22. Byvirtue of this action of cylindrical lens 25, the part of the light fiux which passes through slit 22 appears on film 22 at the recording point 24 as a final line image, the horimntal extension or length of which is determined by the length of the image of mirror l2 formed by spherical lens 22 (see Figs. 2 and 3). As long as-some part of image 2| remains over slit 22, this image length remains constant no matter into what position mirror 12 is deflected, and for that reason the length of the final line image remains constant regardless of the length given by the deflection of mirror II to the line of light appearing at slit 20.

When therefore the lengthof the line of light appearing at slit 22 varies on account of the defiection of'mirror It in accordance with the electrical impulses to be recorded, these variations of the amount of the light flux permitted to pass through slit 22 become manifest as variations of the intensity of the final line image because the light fiux contained in any given length of the illuminated portion of slit 22 is. at the recording point 24, evenly distributed horizontally over a definite length by reason of the action of spherical lens 22 in the horizontal plane, As the vertical extension or width of the final line image is determined by the action of cylindrical lens 22 in the vertical plane, it will now be understood why it is immaterialthatthe action of spherical lens 22 in the vertical plane is barred by screen It No harm, however, will result if, in embodiments of theinvention other than those shown and detwo such lines,

scribed in the present specification, spherical lens 22 should image mirror i2 by acting in the vertical plane also. 0

Thus. a variable density record is produced on film 22 when itmoves past the recording point 24 in a substantially vertical direction, as indicated,

by the arrow 22.

Opening ll inscreen I2 is showninFig'. l as being an isosceles triangle. Screen l2 may, however, have any other opening whose image in the plane of slit 22 is a uniformly illuminated light spot with its horizontal extension gradually varying in a vertical direction, such a light spot havingat least one edge which is inclined with respect to slit 22. The opening inscreen ll may, for example, be a right-angled triangle 22 with one of the sides adiacent to the right angle extendim; horizontally. as shown in Fig. 4, or there may be one or more saw-tooth projections extending into it as they do into openings 2| and 22 in Figs. 5 and 6. With opening 22 there appears at slit 22 a line of light the length of which varies at only one end, with 0pen1ng-2| there appear and with opening 22 a plurality of lines, their lengths varying at both their ends. But because cylindrical lens 22 does not act in the horizontal plane. there is produced in any essence oiexamplebythebrokenlinell-Jiinl'igi.

In order to effect a linear relation between the electrical impulses to be recorded and the transparencyof the recordused for their reproduction,

the horizontal extension oi the uniformly illuminated light spot iormed in the plane oi slit as may gradually vary in a non-linear manner. To that end, one or more of its inclined edges may be curved as are the two inclined edges of opening 34 shown in Pig. '7, a method of computing a suitable curve being disclosed, for example, in British specification 424,042 (I. 6.. Farbenindustrie). Thus, distortions may be cancelled which are introduced, example, by the non-linear characteristics of the oscillograph galvanometer on which mirror II is mounted, or the emulsions oi the recording and printing films, or both.

InFigs.8tol0,thereisshownbywayoiiurther example another optical system capable of producing the line oi light oi varying length which appears at slit II, and which is imaged at the recording point I4 by the action of cylindrical lens inthe vertical plane only. As this optical system is made up partly oi the same elements that are. employed in the optical system shown in Figs. 1 to 7 and described hereinabove, parts common to the two optical systems are designated by the same reierence characters. It will thus be seen that filament ii of incandescent lamp II is again iocussed by condenser lens it on mirror ll, while the axis 44-44 about which mirror II is mounted to vibrate now extends vertically. Again, screen I! is placed adiacent to lens it. But the uniiormly illuminated opening 4'! in screen ll now is a rectangle with one of its sides extending vertically. Again,

spherical lens il, acting in both the vertical and horizontal planes (see Figs. 8 and 10), iorms a uniformly illuminated image lloi opening 41 in the plane of slit 2|, while image Ii illuminates again a portion of silt II.

when mirror it is deflected in accordance with the-electrical impulses to be recorded, it now moves image Bl horizontally. that is, lengthwise 'of slit 20, and this vibration oi image ll lengthwise oi slit 28 again results in variations oithe length of the illuminated portion of slit 2|. As in the case employing the optical system shown in Figs. '1 to 3 .with the opening ll shown in Pig. 4, there now appears at slit 2| a line oi light the length of which varies at only one end. Cylindrical lens II, acting in the verticalplane only, again images this line of light, that is, the illuminated portion of silt II, on film 28 at the recording point 24, while spherical lens 22, by its action in the horizontal plane, again images mirror i3 approximately at therecordingpoint 24 past which film 23 again moves in a substantially vertical direction, as indicated by the arrow It.

The result oi this double imagery is the same as has been explained hereinabove in connection with Figs. 1 to 3. It is understood that the vibration of mirror I: about the vertical axis 44-44 eiiecta changes of the length of its image as 76' axis vertical, as shown in iormed by spherical lens II. But these changes are of such a smallorder that they do not aiiect the obiects to be achieved by the present invention, and hence it can legitimately be assumed i'or the purpose of the present specification that the lengthoi theimsge of mirror It remains constant also when mirror it vibrates about a vertlcai axis.

Screen it when .used in conjunction with a minor vibrating about a vertical axis need not have a rectangular opening such as opening 41, shown in Fig. 8. It may have any other opening permitting the, iormation, by spherical lens ll, oi animage thereof in the plane oi slit 2| which is a uniformly illuminated-light spot, and whose vibration lengthwise oi slit it varies the length'oi the portion oi slit 2| illuminated by it. All that is required to accomplish that end is that the uniformly illuminated light spot have an edge which intersects slit 2| transversely, and this edge need not be straight as is edge 43, shown in Fig. 8, but may be curved or even ragged ii desired.

It will thus be seen that the two optical systems shown in Figs. 1 to 7 and 8 to 10 oi the present specification both have means for forming, in the plane of slit II, a uniformly illuminated light spot whose vibration varies the length of the portion of slit ll illuminated by it. The direction oi vibration of the light spot with respect to slit 2| =merely depends upon its shape. But there is no shape the uniformly illuminated light spot could have which would exclude its being vibrated in some direction with the result of varying the length'oi the illuminated portion of slit II, it being understood that the light spot and slit 2| must be properly dimensioned in order to permit the degreeoi variation desired. Hence, with a light spot of suitable shape the axis of vibration oi mirror It need neither be horizontal as is axis l4-i4, shown in Fig. 1, nor vertical as is axis 44-44, shown in Fig. 8, but may have any inclination with respect to the vertical and horizontal planes of the optical system which it is found desirableto have in a particular case.

Each of the two optical systems shown in Figs.

.1 to 'i and 8 to 10 of the present specification is capable of the following modifications:

(1) While spherical lens II is shown as being placed in front of mirror I! so as to act on the light fiux proceeding through the optical system both before and utter it is reflected from mirror I, it may also be placed so that it acts on only the incident or only the reflected light flux.

Instead of spherical lens I! there may also be used two cylindrical lenses one of which may act on the incident and the other on the reflected light fiux, the opening in screen it being imaged in the plane oi slit Zlfby one cylindrical lens acting in the vertical and by the other acting in the horisontal plane.

(2) Slit Il may be replaced by a cylindrical lens which acts in the vertical plane only, as is set iorth in detail in my co-pending application on the same day and as- Ser. No. 343,811, filed in place of spherical lens 22 a cylindrical lens I! with its cylinder Fig. 11, lens I having plane is barred by screen I8. Y

sameioceliemthandapertureaslensn' actiminthehoriaontalplane only. Furtbermomwhilesriierlcallens i2 andcylindrical'lens UI-areshowninm1to3,8to 10, and 11, asbelng placed between mirror-II and screenll,theymayalaobeplacedbetweenscreen iiamcylindricallensllp v In case spherical lens 22 and cylindrical lens I! areplaeed betweenscreen-Iland cylindrical lens so, and in case cylindrical lens or is placed betweenmirrorilandscreen ",theselensesmay have any position which is consistent with their iimctiontoimage,bytheiractioninthehorizontal plane, mirror I! app oximately at the recording point 24. If, however, spherical lens I! is placed between mirror ll and'screen it,

land varying intensity which is produced by the cooperation of cylindrical lens I! and spherical lens 22. or cylindrical lens I! and cylindrical lens scribed-hereinabove. The omission of the concentrating lensa, however, involves a considerable loss oi illumination and hence is generally concentrating lenses 2: or 82 merely serve to increase the light emcieney oi the optical systems so that they will, under the usual working conditions, give practical results.

' 0! building the optical systems with small physical size, and a cylindrical lens of short focal length is less expensive than a spherical lens system well enough corrected to be capable 0! forming, over the same length, an equally sharp line II, has been shown and described hereinabove as being formed immediately on film 23. It may, however; also be re-imaged on film a by suitable means inserted at a convenient place between cylindrical lens II and film 28.

This re-imagery may be'eflected by means acting in both the vertical and horizontal planes and either with or without changing, in either one,

plane or in the two planes, the dimensions of the final line image. It may also be effected by means acting in the vertical plane only', ior example, by inserting between cylindrical lens 25 and film}! a cylindrical lens with its cylinder axis horizontal, concentrating lenses 2! or 2 in this case imaging mirror ll through the two cylindrical lenses approximately at the recording P int 24. I

(5) It has been assumed hereinbeiore that the final line image formed at the recording point 24 is o! lmiiorm illumination throughout its entire length. Actually this is true only in case theimage of mirror 13 formed by concentrating lenses 2: or 02 is in focus at the recording point 24. If it is out of focus with respect thereto, the illumination of the finalline image decreases at its ends, andonly its central portion is uniiormly illuminated. The edges of the'impulse record are therefore blurred "in this case and should be screened oil when prints of the record are made, such screening of! now being commonly practiced in printing from variable density records.

11, however, it isdesired to eliminate the blurred edges when making the original record 'on 1 point 24 is larger than the angle subtended there by the illuminated portion of slit il when it is at its maximum length, the 'final line image will have a uniformly illuminated .central' portion also when concentrating lenses. '22 or. are omtited from the optical systems shown and deimage. The optical Systems may there; e be built at comparatively little cost.

(6) "Normally, the optical systems disc (used in the present specification are so adjusted that in.

the rest or zero position of mirror ii, that is,

when no electrical impulses are applied to the tion, or horizontally when; employed with the optical system shown in Figs. 8 to.10 thereof.- To that end, it may be connected by a stem 10,- shown by way of example in Figs. 13:: and 13b, or like means, to a motor to which an electric current corresponding to the envelope of the sound waves to be recorded is applied. Such a motor and a methodfor its operation is disclosed. for example, in 'H. McDowell, Jr.s. U. S. Specification 1,855,197. 7

Finally, when screen It, employed with the optical system shown in Figs. 1 to 3 of the present specification, has the opening ll shown in Fig. 1 thereof the opening 3| shown in Fig. 5, the opening ll shown in Fig. 7, or a similar opening, noiseless recording may also be achieved by providing adjacent to screen It a twin shutter mechanism similar to that disclosed in H; J. Hasbrouck's U. S. specification 2,102,778.

The application of any of the methods for noiseless recording mentioned above will result in shifting the mean density of; the sound record produced on film II in accordance with the envelope of the sound waves to be recorded.

(7) The optical system disclosed in Figs. 1 to 7 0! the present specification differs from the optical system disclosed in my co-pending application Ser. No. 343,616, filed on the same day and assigned to the same assignee as the present speciiication, mereb in that the opening in screen I is imaged in the plane of slit 20 by means acting in both the vertical and horizontal planes instead of by means acting in the vertical plane only. The same final result, that is, a variable density record, may therefore be accomplished by employing, with mirror II vibrating about a horiaaiaaso aohtalaxiaeitherasphericallensoracylindrical lens with its cylinder axis horizontal for the imageryof the opening in screen It. This interchangeability or the means imaging the opening in screen II in the plane of slit 2. aifords an advantageous degreeof freedom in designing a particular optical system in accordance with the inventions disclosed in the present specification and the co-pending application referred to.

Furthermore, the two optical systems disclosed inl'lgs.l to'landiltomofthepresentspecincation and the optical system disclosed in my application Ser. No. 343,616 have the common advantage that their adjustment is not critical inthattheimageoftheopeninginscreen ll need be formed only approximately in the plane of slit II, that is, either exactly in this plane or in the neighborhood thereof. It is understood that when formed in the neighborhood of the plane of slit II by a spherical lens-as disclosed in the present specification-the image of the opening in screen it is a uniformly illuminated light spot having blurred edges, and wherever the term uniformly illuminated light spot" ocours in the present description and in the appended claims it should be read as including also such a light spot.

However, in contradistinction to the optical system disclosed in my application Ser. No. 343,- 616 and also the optical systems for variable density recording known heretofore, there is formed in the optical systems disclosed in Figs. 1 to 'l and 8 to 10 of the present specification a uniformly illuminated light spot in the plane 01! a slit. This permits visible adjustment of the optical systems built in accordance with the present invention, and also visible monitoring of the recording of the electrical impulses, in a particularly convenient and accurate manner.

Many other modifications of the invention will readily susaest themselves to unite skilled in the art. The invention, therefore, is not to be limited, except in so far as is necessitated by the prior art and by the spirit of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An optical system of the class described for use with a illm which moves at the recording point in a substantially vertical direction, having, in combination, meansforming a slit which extends horizontally, means for illuminating said 1 slit. means for varying the length of the illuminated portion of said slit, means imaging said slit at said recording point and acting in the vertical plane only, and means acting in the horital plane and concentrating at said recording point the light flux passing through said slit.

2. An optical'system of the class described for use with a film which moves at the recording point in asubstantially vertical direction, having, in combination. means forming a slit which extends horizontally, means for forming a uniformly illuminated light spot in the plane oi said slit, a mirror adapted to vibrate. said light spot in such a manner asto vary the length of that portion of said slit which is illuminated by said light spot, means imaging said slit at said recording point and acting in the vertical plane only, and means imaging said mirror approximately at said recoring point and acting in the horizontal plane.

3. An optical system of the class described for use with a film which moves at. the recording" extends horizontally, means for forming a uniformly illuminated light spot inthe plane of said slit, a mirror adapted to vibrate said light spot in such a manner as to vary the length of that portion of said slit which is illuminated by said light spot, means imaging said slit at said recording point and acting in the vertical plane only, and a cylindrical lens having its cylinder axis vertical and imaging said mirror approximately at said recording point.

, 4. An optical system of the class described for use with a film which moves at the recording point in a substantially vertical direction, having, in combination, means forming a slit which extends horizontally, means for forming in the plane of said slit a uniformly illuminated light spot the horizontal extension of which gradually varies in a vertical direction, means for vibrating said light spot across said slit, and means imaging said slit at said recording point and acting in the'vertical plane only.

5. An optical system as defined in claim 4 wherein said vibrating means are adapted to vibrate said light spot in accordance with the electrical impulses to be recorded and the horizontal extension of said light spot gradually varies in a vertical direction and in a non-linear manner so as to effect a linear relation between said electrical impulses and the transparency of the record used for the reproduction thereof.

6. An optical system of the class described for use with a film which moves at the recording point in a substantially vertical direction, having, in combination, means forming a slit which extends horizontally, a screen with an opening the horizontal extension of which gradually varies in a vertical direction, means for uniformly'illuminatlng said opening, means acting in both the vertical and horizontal planes for forming an image of said opening in the plane of said slit, means for vibrating said image across said slit, and means imaging said slit at said .recording point and acting in the vertical plane only.

7. An optical system as defined in claim 6 wherein said vibrating means are adapted to vibrate said image in accordance with the electrical impulses to be recorded and said screen is vertically movable in accordance with the em velope of said electrical impulses.

8. An optical system of the class described for use with a film which moves at the recording point in a substantially vertical direction. having, in combination, means forming a slit which extends horizontally, a screen with an opening the horizontal extension of which gradually varies in a vertical direction, means for uniformly illuminating said opening, means acting in bot-hthe vertical and horizontal planes for forming an image of said opening in the plane of said slit, a mirror adapted to vibrate about a horizontal axis so as to move said image across said slit, means imaging said slit at said record ing point and acting in the vertical plane only, and'means imaging said mirror approximately 'at said recording point and acting in the hori= zontal plane. 7

9. .An optical system oi the class described for use with a film which moves at the recording point in a substantially vertical direction, having, in combination, a light source, a mirror adapted to vibrate about a horizontal axis. means for directing light from said light source upon said mirror, means placed between said mirror and said film and forming a slit which extends horizontally, a screen placed between said light source and said mirror and having an opening the horizontal extension of which gradually varies in'a vertical direction, said opening being uniformly illuminated by said light source. means acting in both the vertical and horizontal planes for forming an image oi said, opening in v the plane of said slit, saidimage beingmovable asiaaea said recording point and acting in the horizontal plane.

14. An optical system as defined in claim 13 wherein said mirror is adapted to vibrate about said horizontal axis in accordance with electrical impulses to be recorded on said film and said screen is vertically movable in accordance with the envelope of said electrical impulses.

ing point in a substantially vertical direction,

having, in combination, means forming a slit which extends horizontally, a screen with an opening having an edge which is inclined with respect to said slit, means for uniformly illuminating said opening, means acting in both the vertical and horizontal planes for forming an image of said opening in the plane of said slit, a mirror adapted to vibrate about a horizontalaxis so as to move said image across said slit,- thereby varying the length of that portion of said slit which is illuminated by said image, means imaging said slit at said recording point and acting in the vertical plane only, and means imaging said mirror approximately at said recording point and acting in the horizontal plane; 11. An optical system as defined in claim 10 wherein said mirror is adapted to vibrate about said horizontal axis in accordance with electrical impulses to be recorded'on said film and said screen is vertically movable in' accordance with the envelope of said electrical impulses.

12. An optical system oi" the class described for use with a film which moves at the recording point in a substantially vertical direction, having, in combination, a light source, a mirror adapted to vibrate about a horizontal axis, means the vertical and horizontal planes for forming an image'of said opening in the plane of said slit, said image being movable by the vibration of said mirror insuch a manner as to varythe length of that portion of said slit which is illuminated by said image, means imaging said slit at said recording point and acting in the vertical plane only, and means imaging said mirror approximately at said recording point and act ing in the horizontal plane.

13. An optical systemof the class described for use with a him which moves at the recording point in a substantially vertical direction, having, incombination, means forming a slit which extends horizontally, a screen with an opening which is an isosceles 'triangle with its base extending horizontally, means for uniformly illuminating said opening, means acting in both the vertical and horizontal planes for forming an image of said opening in the plane of said slit,- 'a mirror adapted to vibrate about a horizontal axis so as to move said image across said slit, means imaging said slit at' said recording point and acting in the vertical plane only, I

75 19. An optical system ol'the class described;

and means imaging said mirror approximately at mirror approximately at said recording point 15. An optical system of the class described for use with a film which moves at the recording point in a substantially vertical direction, having, incombination, a light source, a mirror adapted to vibrate about a horizontal axis,

means for directing light from said light source upon said mirror, means placed between said mirror and said film and forming a slit which extends horizontally, a screen placed between said light source and said mirror and having an opening which is an isosceles'triangle with its base extending horizontally, said opening being uniformly illuminated by said light source, means acting in both the vertical and horizontal planes for forming an image of said opening in the plane of said sllt, said image being movableby the vibration of said mir'ror, means imaging said slit at said recording point and acting in the vertical plane only, and means imaging said and acting in the horizontal plane.

16, An optical system of the class described for use with a. film which moves at the recording point ina substantially vertical direction. having. in combination, means forming a slit which extends horizontally, a screen with an opening which is a right-angled triangle with one of the sides adjacent to the right angle extending horizontally, means for uniformly illuminating said opening, means acting in both the vertical and horizontal planes for forming an image of said opening in the plane of said slit, a mirror adapted to vibrate about a horizontal axis so as to move said image "across said'slit, means imaging said slit at saidrecording point and acting in the vertical plane only, and means imaging said mirror approximately at said recording point and acting in the horizontal plane.

17. An optical system as defined in claim 16 wherein said mirror is adapted to vibrate about said horizontal axisin accordance with electrical impulses to be recorded on said film and i said screen is vertically movable1in accordance Q horizontally, a screen placed between said light source and said mirror and having an opening which is a right-angled triangle with one of the "nated by said light source, means acting in both the-vertical and horizontal planes for forming an image of said opening in .the plane of said mately at said recording point and acting in the sides adjacent-to'the right angle extending norizontally, said opening being uniformly illumislit, said image being movable by the vibration of said mirror, means imagingsaid silt at said recording point and acting-in the vertical plane only, and means imaging said mirror approxihorizontal plane.

for use witha film which moves at the recording point in a substantially vertical direction, having, in combination, means forming a slit which extends horizontally, a screen with an opening having an edge, means for uniformly illuminating said opening, means acting in both the vertical and horizontal planes for imaging said opening in the plane of said slit so as to form an image of said edge which transversely intersects said slit, a mirror adapted to vibrate about a vertical axis so as to move said image lengthwise of said slit, thereby varying the length of that portion of said slit which is illuminated by said image, means imaging said slit at said recording point and acting in the vertical plane only, and means imaging said mirror approximately at said recording point and acting in the horizontal plane.

20. An optical system as defined in claim 19 wherein said mirror is adapted to vibrate about said vertical axis in accordance with electrical impulses to be recorded on said film and said screen is horizontally movable in accordance with the envelope of said electrical impulses.

21. An optical system of the class described for use with a film which, moves at the recording point in a substantially vertical direction, having, in combination, a light source, a mirror adapted to vibrate about a vertical axis, means for directing light from said light source upon said mirror, means placed between said mirror and said film and forming a slit which extends horizontally, a screen placed between said light source and said mirror and having an opening with an edge, said opening being uniformly illuminated by said light source, means acting in boththe vertical and horizontal planes for imaging said opening in the plane of said slit so as to form an image of said edge which transversely intersects said slit and is movable by the I vibration of said mirror in such a manner as to vary the length of that portion of said slit which is illuminating by said image, means imaging said'slit at said recording point andacting in 22. An optical system of the class described for use with a film which moves at the recording point in a substantially vertical direction, having, in combination, means forming a slit which extends, horizontally, a screen with an opening which is a rectangle with one of its sides extending vertically, means for uniformly illuminating said opening, means acting in both the vertical and horizontal planes for forming an image of said opening in the plane of said slit,

a mirror adapted to vibrate about a vertical axis screen is horizontally movable in accordance with the envelope of said electrical impulses.

24. An optical system of the class described for use with a film which moves at the recording point in a substantially vertical direction,

having, in combination, a light source, a mirror.

adapted to vibrate about a vertical axis, means for directing light from said light source upon said mirror, means placed between said mirror and said film and forming a slit which extends horizontally, a screen placed between said light source and said mirror and having an opening which is a rectangle with one of its sides extending vertically, said opening being uniformly illuminated by said light source, means acting in both the vertical and hrizontal planes for forming an image of said opening in the plane of said slit, said image being movable by the vibration of said mirror, means imaging said slit at said recording point and acting in the vertical plane only, and means imaging said mirror approximately at said recordingpoint and acting in the horizontal plane.

JOHN A. MAURER,JR. 

